Daily Farm Report: Carlson cruising at Memphis

Memphis Redbirds 5, Round Rock Express 4

Jake Woodford (SP) - 6.2 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 3 HR

Dylan Carlson (CF) - 3-4, 2 RBI, K

Adolis Garcia (LF) - 1-1, HR, 2 RBI

Great start, kid! Dylan Carlson is now seven games into his Triple-A career, and he’s batting a ludicrous .552/.606/.931 with two home runs. Defensively, he’s split time across all three spots, with two games in right, one game in center, and four in left. But then again he hasn’t stolen a base yet...slacker.

The Redbirds are now 61-67.

Springfield Cardinals 4 @ Frisco RoughRiders 3

Evan Kruczynski (SP) - 7 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 1 HR

Yariel Gonzalez (DH) - 2-4, 2B, RBI, K

Juan Yepez (LF) - 1-4, 2B, 2 RBI, K

Rayder Ascanio (SS) - 2-4, 2B

Now that Yepez is at Double-A, it’ll be interesting to see how the defensive duties are split up between so many bottom of the spectrum corner types. First there’s Yariel Gonzalez, who occupies a similar 1B/3B roles. Then there’s Chris Chinea and Zach Kirtley, two guys who have bumped down the defensive spectrum and have for the most part played the year at first. If early starts are any indication, Yepez will get to see ample time in the outfield, most likely in left.

Speaking of Gonzalez, let’s peek into his season thus far. So far in 2019, Gonzalez has spent time at three different levels - Palm Beach, Springfield and Memphis. Now, that Memphis stint was a short seven game jaunt, so we’ll focus on the lower two levels. Adjusting for Roger Dean, his splits between the levels are remarkably similar: .260/.312/.321 vs. .278/.328/.481. The underlying plate discipline and batted ball distribution are close as well, and it looks like he’s continuing his fly ball kick that began at Peoria last year. Assuming he doesn’t get nabbed in the Rule V Draft this winter, at 25 years old Gonzalez seems like he’s a discipline or power improvement away from being a useful bat. Could the juiced ball help?

The win improves Springfield’s record to 57-71.

Palm Beach Cardinals 9, Bradenton Marauders 2

Kyle Leahy (SP) - 5 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 3 K

Zack Thompson (RP) - 1.2 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K

Nolan Gorman (3B) - 2-3, 2B, RBI, 2 BB, K

Luken Baker (1B) - 2-5, 2B, 2 RBI

Further down south, Nolan Gorman is slogging through a bit of a tough 10-game stretch. Since August 10, he’s struck out at a 39.5% clip and batted .211/.302/.342 despite running a .381 BABIP. With a little over a week left in the season, a sustained downturn won’t do too much to dent his bottomline. It’s entirely possible that as a 19-year old coming to the end of his first full pro season, the daily grind is catching up to him.

The Wednesday appearance was Zack Thompson’s eleventh at Palm Beach, and his thirteenth pro appearance if we include two games from the GCL. In all, Thompson has turned in 15.1 innings of work, collected 23 strikeouts against four walks, and allowed six earned runs. That last part is especially unimportant, considering batters have posted an absurd .457 BABIP against him. The peripherals are strong (check) and he’s stayed healthy (check, knocks on wood), now we wait to see what impact he can make as a full-time starter.

Palm Beach is now 55-68 on the year.

Peoria Chiefs 2, Quad Cities River Bandits 0

Michael Brettell (SP) - 8 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 K

Connor Thomas (RP) - 1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K

Leandro Cedeno (RF) - 1-3, 2B, RBI, K

Peoria is now 48-79.

Johnson City Cardinals 3, Elizabethton Twins 2

Hector Soto (SP) - 5 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 HR

Walker Robbins (RP) - 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K

Zach Jackson (C) - 1-3, HR, 3 RBI, K

As far as relief experiments go, the early returns on the Walker Robbins transition have been strong. The big lefty has thrown just 22 innings for Johnson City this year, but in that time he’s whiffed 29.5% of batters while walking just 8.4%. The sample is small, but it’s a nice foundation to build on after switching to the mound so late last year.

Johnson City is now 32-29 on the season.

GCL Astros 15 @ GCL Cardinals 9

Roy Garcia (SP) - 1.2 IP, 5 H, 6 ER, 3 BB, 2 K

Zade Richardson (C) - 3-4, HR, 2 RBI, BB, K

Franklin Soto (SS) - 2-5, 2B, HR, RBI, 2 K

Pablo Gomez (1B) - 1-3, HR, 2 RBI, BB

DSL Cardinals Red 8 @ DSL Rangers 2

Diorys Guerrero (SP) - 4 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 7 K

Smith Vargas (CF) - 1-4, 2B, RBI, 3 K

Fernando Brazoban (RF) - 1-2, 3 RBI

DSL Cardinals Red 5, DSL Rangers 2

Angel Cuenca (SP) - 3 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K

Claudio Ramirez (LF) - 2-3, 3B

Albert Inoa (2B) - 2-3, 2B, RBI, K

DSL Phillies Red 1, DSL Cardinals Blue 0

Yordy Richard (SP) - 5 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K

Eduar Pimentel (RP) - 2 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K

Darlin Moquete (LF) - 2-4, 2B

DSL Cardinals Blue 2 @ DSL Phillies Red 1

Yordy Richard (SP) - 4.2 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 5 K

Gustavo A. Rodriguez (DH) - 2-3, 2B, K

Luis Rodriguez (C) - 1-3, 2B, 2 RBI

~

Thursday’s Probables

MEM: Chris Ellis

SPR: Angel Rondon

PMB: Alvaro Seijas

PEO: TBD

SC: Adrian Mardueno

JC: Luis Ortiz